Britain's 10 best fish and chip shops

(CNN) — Finding superlative examples of Britain's national dish isn't as easy as tracking down great cheese in Paris or sublime sushi in Japan.

Serving originally as cheap and filling fodder for the country's burgeoning 19th-century working class, most of the 250 million portions of fish and chips sold today by Britain's 10,000 or so vendors of the dish -- "chippies" to locals -- remain unappetizing concoctions of gray-colored fish in soggy batter, accompanied by anemic chips and flaccid little sachets of ketchup.

Little wonder that so many first time visitors to England and the rest of the UK wonder what all the fuss is about -- never mind where to find mouthwash strong enough to remove the taste of stale cooking fat from their mouths.

That's a shame, because some establishments are great exceptions to the mediocre rule and prove to be a worthy destination.

Many are family-run enterprises that use local produce and provide an experience that marries the aroma of the ocean with the warmth of the hearth inside one delicious paper-wrapped package.

Our 10 of the best fish and chip shops in Britain list culminates with the latest winner of a prestigious national award.

10. Chez Fred (Bournemouth)

Commitment to quality shows at every stage at this legendary South Coast chippy, from the chunky chips cooked in rapeseed oil to the house-made mushy peas, a traditional fish and chip accompaniment in Britain.

The cod and haddock are certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Ethical but supremely tasty, these are PC fish and chips par excellence.

We recommend: plaice fillet with large chips and mushy peas.

9. The Company Shed (West Mersea, Essex)

It's smart to keep an eye on your watch if you make the journey to this ramshackle but welcoming little seafood shack near the ancient Roman town of Colchester; if your timing is off, you risk being stranded when the tide surrounds the miniscule island where the chippy perches.

Not that this would be such a bad thing, with the fabulous array of seafood to be consumed at the basic picnic tables here, from native oysters at 80p each to crab-and-lobster rolls, cockles, prawns and locally smoked salmon.

Prices are a fraction of what you'd pay in London, and you can bring your own wine.

7. Rock and Sole Plaice (London)

With high prices matched by low quality, the West End of London is something of a fish and chip tourist trap.

The venerable Rock and Sole Plaice is a local exception -- this Cypriot-run chippy near Covent Garden Piazza has been serving portions of perfectly flaky battered cod, crunchy chips and mushy peas since 1875.

The West End theater posters lining the walls hint at the odd big name thesp who drops in: both Peter O'Toole and Anthony Hopkins eat here when they're in town.

4. Whetstone Fish Bar (Leicester)

Buried deep in the Midlands, far from the coastline, it's the commitment to quality ingredients that makes this chippy run by the parents of UK TV presenter Gok Wan stand out -- fish are delivered daily from the port of Grimsby.

The fish cakes are tire-sized, and this is just the place to try a chippy custom peculiar to the region: pouring thick gravy over the chips before consuming with the fish. (It's nicer than it sounds.)

1. The Bay (Stonehaven)

And officially the Best Fish and Chip Shop in Britain?

For 2013, the winner of this hotly contested competition -- in which everything from customer service to sustainability and hygiene is inspected and marked -- is located in a fishing town on the far northeast coast of Scotland.

The Bay's challenging-sounding specialities include deep-fried black pudding -- a compacted tube of congealed pig's blood cooked with oatmeal, suet, bread and potato.From its harborside location, the Bay restaurant also serves haddock straight from the North Sea and mackerel caught by a family member.